Photothermal spectroscopy using a pyroelectric thin-film detector

The application of pyroelectric thin-film transducers for photothermal studies is described. The sensitivity and versatility of pyroelectric detection are demonstrated by spectroscopic studies of neodymium oxide doped poly (methyl methacrylate) films. At energy fluences of less than 10 mJ/cm2, sensitivities of 1014 molecules/cm2 are achieved with a conventional amplitude modulated light source as well as with a pulsed laser. A detector response time of less than 100 ns is observed with pulsed excitation.